6th Annual Meeting
SATURDAY-SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28-29, 2000 - 9:30 AM SAT. - 4:30 PM SUN.
WASHINGTON, D.C., MARRIOTT RESIDENCE INN, PENTAGON CITY, VA
(For additional information and Registration Form go to Calendar on
the Menu)
NADA/F BOARD MEETING -
Feb. 5-8, 2000
Special thanks to our NADA/F
board members who so generously participated in an excellent four-day
board meeting in Washington DC. Saturday and Sunday we focused on
NADA/F's past accomplishments, goals for the future, and corporate
business. We agreed that the Marriott Residence Inn in Pentagon City,
VA will be an excellent location for the next annual meeting, and we
expect the 6th Annual Meeting to be the best to date!
Monday and Tuesday we
divided into smaller groups and met with five government agencies, the
Red Cross, plus 30 Congressional meetings. We stressed the need
for Congressional Public Hearings about the lack of FAA prompt
compliance with NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) fatal air
crash recommendations. We have become the largest grassroots air
safety organization in the U.S., and a major voice for 100% FAA
(Federal Aviation Administration) compliance with NTSB
recommendations. Unfortunately, FAA compliance has dropped from 82% to
80%, and the number of air crashes is increasing.
At our Congressional
meetings we also stressed the need to overturn the 1920 DOHSA
"Death on the High Seas" Act. While passing the FAA
re-appropriations for 2000, Congress did pass legislation regarding
DOHSA, however, it is not completely what we wanted.
We encourage our members to
write to their Congressmen and Senators about air safety, especially
during this important election year. It has become easier to contact
your representatives via the internet:
www.house.gov
(for Congressmen) and www.senate.gov
(for U.S. Senators).
February 7th NADA/F
MEETING WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
While
meeting in Washington DC, board members had an excellent meeting with
the Red Cross leadership responsible for family assistance after an
air crash. We appreciate working with them since passage of the Family
Assistance Act in 1996. The Red Cross made our brochure available to
families at EgyptAir 990, and they have agreed to continue to have the
information available in the future. We appreciate their help in
reaching new family members. Often we hear from people who have said
they wished they had known about NADA/F much earlier. The support for
victims' families is an important part of our founding mission.
NADA/F's position is that
family members who have been successfully trained should be utilized
for support personnel to help the families short term and long term
after an air disaster. There are Red Cross regional offices throughout
the U.S., and they offer different levels of services and training,
depending on their size and the area. Some offer Disaster Training
Classes, and some offer Public Affairs training, to help with the
media after a disaster. People are encouraged to check with their
local Red Cross offices to see what training is available. If your Red
Cross chapter has limited training, you may want to check with other
offices in your region.
Most important, is that
family assistance after an air crash has greatly improved, and NADA/F
will continue to work with government and social service agencies to
raise the standards for support, plus disclosure of air crash
investigation information to the families.
- Gail Dunham
CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM
(CRT) TRAINING
Last year, NADA/F offered
our first Crisis Response Team Training. We worked with NOVA, National
Organization for Victim Assistance, to offer the training to our
members for only $50. We had an excellent group of participants, and
everyone agreed that merely wanting to go to a crash site to help in
some way is not good enough, and people must be trained to prevent the
victimization from reoccurring.
If you would like to
participate in Crisis Response Team Training, with other NADA/F
members, we would like to hear from you. We are considering sponsoring
training in Fall, 2000, however, we need to know the level of support
before we make the commitment. Last year it was least expensive to
offer the training near Baltimore MD, however, if you know of a
central location with inexpensive meeting accommodations please let us
know. We are always looking for volunteers to coordinate those
important details.
If you are interested
in participating in CRT training please contact Jim Hurd,
410-551-0459.
DOHSA Death on the
High Seas Act
In 1920 Congress passed
DOHSA to help maritime widows collect needed benefits. Through the
years the airlines have pushed to apply this law to air crash
litigation when the crash was at sea.
On March 8th and March 15th,
the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, passed an
amended version of the 1920 Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) as part
of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act of the 21st
Century.
The amended legislation
moves the limit of DOHSA from one marine league to 12 nautical miles
off the shore of any state, the District of Columbia, or the
territories or dependencies of the U.S.
If a commercial aviation
accident occurs within the newly established 12-mile limit, then DOHSA
shall not apply and the rules applicable under Federal, State, and
other appropriate laws shall apply. However, if a commercial aviation
accident occurs outside the 12 mile limit, then DOHSA will continue to
apply. DOHSA will apply to any death caused by a commercial accident
after July 16, 1996. (The day before TWA 800).
The amended DOHSA still does
not allow for the recovery of punitive damages, but does allow for the
recovery of nonpecuniary damages for wrongful death, which is defined
as the loss of care, comfort, and companionship. It does not allow for
the recovery of pain and suffering prior to death. The old DOHSA did
not allow for the recovery of nonpecuniary damages.
The newly amended DOHSA
allows for a class of beneficiaries of the decedent to recover the
pecuniary loss sustained which is also defined as economic loss or
loss of wages. There was no cap set on damages, and includes inflation
adjustments.
In all aviation accidents
that have occurred in open water since July 16, 1996, the newly
amended DOHSA will not apply to TWA 800, and will not likely apply to
Alaska Air 261, because both accidents occurred within the 12 nautical
mile limit. (AS261 was off a U.S. island). However, the EgyptAir 990
crash falls outside the 12-mile limit, at approximately 60 miles off
the coast of Nantucket. Attorneys for Swissair 111 will also argue the
amended version of DOHSA should apply because the accident occurred
outside the 12 mile limit, off the coast of the U.S., although the
crash occurred well within the limits of Canadian territorial waters.
The Wendell H. Ford Aviation
Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century was sent to President
Clinton on March 29th, and the President signed the bill into law on
April 5, 2000. It became Public Law No. 106-181.
Lanita Hausman, NADA/F
Vice President, and Swissair 111
Email: Lhaus1963@aol.com
BROOKE'S PLACE -
Indianapolis IN
Brooke's
Place provides support for children, teens and young adults from the
ages of 3 to 22, to work through their grief over the death of a loved
one, for as long as needed. Brooke's Place is an excellent resource
for those in the mid-west.
The program's name honors
Brooke Wright, who lost her father Thomas Wright on AA4184, Halloween,
1994. Brooke, and her mother Ann Wright, have found that helping
others has helped them with their own enormous grief. Brooke has gone
from a fateful night of "trick or treating" to a college
student majoring in counseling and psychology, and very committed to
helping others.
Special thanks to Ann and
Brooke Wright for offering their support to others. If you would like
more information, or if you would like to receive some of their
excellent printed materials feel free to call: Brooke's Place
317-879-4066
NEW! Bumper Stickers!
Baggage Stickers
NADA/F year 2000 members
will soon be receiving bumper stickers in the mail! They are free with
a $20 annual membership, or may be purchased for $2 each. They look
great on a car bumper or a suitcase, and will be easily recognized.
Thank you to our Board Member Mary Kahl (UA232) for making this air
safety promotional sticker available to us!
FAA Hotline
800-255-1111
If you spot an air safety
irregularity or have an in-flight experience that you know is not a
routine flight, please call the FAA Hotline and report the incident!
Also, feel free to forward to us in writing what you have reported,
and we will keep the information on file. Include the date, flight
number and as many details as possible.
We cannot provide answers,
that is the job of the FAA, however by reporting incidents hopefully
we can increase the pressure on the FAA to keep more accurate records
of incidents reported and actions taken (or not taken).
EgyptAir 990
NADA/F is opposed to the
rush to judgment on the cause of the crash of EgyptAir 990, and we
support a full scientific investigation, including a full disclosure
of the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder. Plane
crashes are too important for edited transcripts. The following
EgyptAir website was prepared by a family member: http://www.geocities.com/ea990/
The Book Shelf!
Visit
our website for our NEW Books Shelf Column! The following are some
books that you may find interesting about air safety. Special thanks
to Mary Kahl and Maureen Dobert for helping with The Book Shelf!
Questions? Contact Mary at MKahlcul8@aol.com
"Safety in the
Skies: Personnel and Parties in NTSB Aviation Accident
Investigations"
by Cynthia C. Lebow, Liam P. Sarsfield, William L. Stanley, Emile
Ettedgui, Garth Henning
MR-1122-ICJ, ( published
1999 by RAND)
Paperback - 56 pages - An Executive Summary
(A longer technical version will be available in 2000)
ISBN: 0-8330-2806-5
Price: $15.00 + postage ($1.13 Book Rate or $3.20 Priority Mail) Order
from:
RAND -Distribution Services
1700 Main Street - PO Box 2138
Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138
Telephone: 310-451-7002 - Fax: 310-451-6915
E-mail: order@rand.org Website: www.rand.org/
Review:
Is the NTSB at its breaking
point? Will the NTSB be able to function effectively over the next
decade, or beyond, given the expected exponential changes in
technology and air travel? The RAND study of the NTSB aviation
accident investigations recommends a major overhaul to ensure the
agency's investigative independence and integrity. Conducted at the
request of Chairman Jim Hall, the research provides the most
comprehensive look at operations of the NTSB in its history.
Dealing with the
complexities, costs & lengths of investigations such as TWA 800
and USAir 427, has highlighted the key factors desperately in need of
remedy at the NTSB.
The NTSB was found to be
desperately understaffed & inadequately equipped to deal
effectively with complex modern aviation accidents. The present party
system allows manufacturers and airlines, often likely candidates in
civil litigation, to assist in the NTSB investigation. Consequently,
pertinent information is not always forthcoming. NTSB investigators
must "ask the right question" and be able to know if they
are receiving the right answers.
The RAND study also suggests
that nonparties, such as claimants or their attorneys be allowed to
petition for reconsideration when new evidence relating to probable
cause or safety recommendations is discovered through civil
litigation.
RAND is a nonprofit
institution that helps improve policy and decision making through
research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect
the opinions or policies of its research sponsors.
"Safety in the
Skies" may be available online, however, its reference page is:
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1122/index.html
NTSB Chairman Jim Hall is
asking for people to send him feedback about the report. Send your
comments to Chairman Jim Hall, NTSB, 490 L'Enfant Plaza East,
SW, Washington, DC 20594, and to Cynthia Lebow, the author at
Rand, Santa Monica, CA (address above.)
"In the Unlikely
Event...
The Politics of Airline Safety"
Currently out of print, but
a xerox copy is available from: The Center for Public Integrity:
Their website is: http://www.publicintegrity.org/
and the publication is described at: http://www.publicintegrity.org/unlikely_event.html.
At the bottom of that page you can also view the report in PDF format.
(unlikely_event.pdf 480KB)
Price is $10.00 + $3.75
(S&H) = $13.75
You may purchase a copy on line, or send a check to:
The Center for Public Integrity, 910 17th St NW 4th Fl., Washington DC
20006, 202-466-1300
"Flying Blind,
Flying Safe" by Mary Fackler Schiavo, with Sabra
Chartrand (Contributor)
Hardcover - 373 pages (May,
1997), Avon Books, IBSN: 0-380-97532-7
Mary Schiavo has generously
donated a limited supply of autographed, hardcover copies of "Flying
Blind, Flying Safe" to NADA/F. Mary Fackler Schiavo is a
genuine crusader for aviation safety. She dares to share the shocking
truth concerning the FAA and "business as usual" in
Washington DC.
This is a "must
read." Individuals wishing to place an order should send
their name, address and a tax-deductible check for $20.00 (S&H
included) payable to NADA/F to:
NADA/F, Book Offer, our Washington DC address.
(Update! "Deadly
Departure: Why the Experts Failed to Prevent the TWA 800 Disaster and
How it Could Happen Again," by Christine Negroni. Review
available on our website. Go to www.planesafe.org and click on Books
on the menu, and go to "Deadly Departure." If you
would like to order this book, or others available from amazon.com
simply click on the www.amazon.com link on the book page. Going from
our website to amazon.com will provide a small commission to the
NATIONAL AIR DISASTER FOUNDATION, and no increase in cost to you. We
appreciate the donations to help our work!
President's Letter,
May, 2000
Dear Members,
During the past two years NADA/F has grown ten-fold, and we continue
to need your financial help as we reach out to more people. We now
represent survivors and those who have lost loved ones from over 60
air crashes.
Everyone is welcome to be on our mailing list, however, we also
appreciate a membership donation of $20 per person per year to help
cover our mailing expenses. Those memberships also entitle members to
vote for corporate business such as Election of Officers, By-laws and
their revisions, and our Goals. Additional updates are also sent to
our corporate members. If you are not yet a member for year 2000, I
encourage you to send your $20 check today, to the National Air
Disaster Foundation, a 501 (c)(3).
Operating
Expenses
We have no paid staff, and our board members pay their own expenses to
attend meetings wherever possible to promote NADA/F, such as the
recent NTSB Symposium on Transportation and the Law. NADA/F also had
representatives at the NTSB/FAA meeting December, 1999, regarding
required child restraint seats. We have an excellent hard-working,
dedicated board, but we need your help also!
Over 75% of our general contributions are used for educating as many
people as possible about our goals-telephone and fax expenses,
printing and mailing costs, newsletters, website expansion, and for
our Annual Meeting expenses. As we send larger newsletters to more
people the costs go up. General donations are also used for memorial
flowers, our annual Air Safety Award, the October 1999 Crisis Response
Team Training, legal and corporate filing expenses to maintain our
tax-exempt status, and our post office box in Washington DC. One of
the founding goals was to establish a NADA/F office in Washington DC,
and we will be even more effective when our presence is there
year-round. Hopefully, someday we will receive the $100,000 donation
that we need to make that office a reality. Meanwhile, we need your
help to cover our operating expenses for year 2000.
Foundations
and Endowments
Our fund raising work has also led to success in receiving increased
corporate, foundation, and designated donations. I am proud to report
that we recently received two gifts of $10,000 each, which are being
kept as endowments.
· A $10,000
endowment donation from Corboy & Demetrio in Chicago to fund our
new annual Award for Journalism Contributions to Improving Air Safety,
and
· A $10,000
endowment donation from Susan and Paul Smith, and Carole and Art
Rietz, to endow the annual Air Safety Award. Their generous donation
is in memory of their sons, Jay Smith, and Howard Rietz, who would
have accomplished so much if they were with us today.
In February the board passed a strict policy that endowments will be
kept in an investment trust, and the interest from that trust will
fund our work. A future $10,000 donation could fund an annual
Award for Broadcast Journalism Contributions to Improving Air Safety.
Other endowment programs are also available, such as a Memorial Fund
where the interest would provide flowers on memorial dates, to let
people know that we will never forget.
Charitable
Remainder Trusts
Our investment trust also enables us to receive Charitable Remainder
Trusts. There are tax advantages for the donor to establish a major
future gift of a Charitable Remainder Trust; and if you would like
more information please give us a call.
On behalf of the Board Members we want to thank everyone for your
help, and we are working to continue to earn your support. Checks
payable to the NATIONAL AIR DISASTER FOUNDATION, a 501(c)(3)
are tax deductible. Checks payable to the NATIONAL AIR DISASTER
ALLIANCE, also tax exempt, are not tax deductible; however, ALLIANCE
donations help with our lobbying work. Thank you for your support!
Yours truly,
Gail A. Dunham, President
